The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-21
A Large Attendance, and Great
Enthusiasm Manifested.
7. M. Hurst, of Nashville, Discusses
Reading-Rooms and Libraries.
Essay by VIM. Ferguson, of Knox
vile, on Financial Management.
Welcome to the Young Men of
Tennessee by L. H. Estes.
An Entertaining Program Arranged for
Today = Essays on Important
Topics To Be R~ead-Three
Sessions.

The ninth annual State convention OF
tho Young Mems Christian association be-
gan its sessions in the Court street Cum
berland Presbyterian church yesterday aft
ernoon. At the hour appointed for the
opening OF business there were fully 100
people in the spacious editice, which Is
large enough to seat an audience OF l,2U
or 1900. Among the audience was Il
large number Of ladies, who seemed To be
very much interested in the proceedings.
Most Of the visiting delegates were on
hand, but there are still some missing who
are expected to arrive today and take part
in the good work.
The members OF the association OF Mem
phis had perfected all necessary arrange,
ments for the reception Of delegates, and
all were promptly taken 60 places where
they could rest quietly and comfortably.
The arrangement committee has done It's
work thoroughly and faithfully, and
nothing now remains butfor those inter
es;cd 10 see that the convention accom-
plishes its purposes.
Before the convention was called to or
der Mr.. j. V. Read arose and stated that
as the president and vice president OF the
last convention were absent, Mr.. ii. A..
Myers would call the convention Ia order.
After having done 30, Mr.. Myers was
unanimously elected temporary chairman,
and Mr.. X. Is. Sims selected to act ~ tenn
pOrary secretary.
On motion, the chair appointed Messrs.
j. II. Cowm, Of Knoxville; W.. u.
Iaumaster, of Memphis, and X. &. Cald-
well, Of Union City, a committee ON
temporary business. ,
After the committee on credentials had
made It's report a committee ON per-
manent organization was appointed. con
sisting Of the following gentlemen: j.. Is.
Millipan, Chattanooga; VI. Il. Pitcher,
Nashville: :. T.. Chandler, GAINESVILLE; W.
A. smalley, Jackson; T. II. Rice, Mem
phis, J. V. Read, Nashville. The COM
mittec retired and ON motion Il was de-
cided to take up the regular order OF bust
mess and hear papers read.
The frsi paper read was by I. VI. Hurst,
OF Nashville, which was aftcrward dis
GUESSED by nearly every delegate present.
Following h the paper:
''Thc subject suggested by your program
committee, presented ~ an interrogaiorI,
proponnds two questions one very easy
and the other very difficult 20 answer.
"sWhat Kind III Care Shall I've Given 10
Reading-nooms and Libmriesy may be
answered by almost any one, but What
Books Shall 20 into kcading-rooms and
Iibrarics?' dues not admit Of such an easy
answer. 'Reading.roOms and Libraries
occupy n vast field, much too wide 10 be
covered in n short paper such rs this.
''The question NJ 10 the contents OF a
library, %propounded 10 the scientist, would
bring one answer, TO the theologian
another. to the lawyer another, 10 the
physician still another, and - on through
the list; but Ms the question ~ pr%oloundcd
10 members Of the Young Men Christian
association We may narrow II somewhat
by asking. What should bc the contents
and care Of Young Mcn'sC Christian associa'
ton reading rooms and hbraricsy
''Our II not u college library, Theological
library, law library, medical library nor
. scientific library, but u r. a part oi a com
pick machinery, all OF which has a unity
+. Of design in seeking the elevation aud
best welfare of young men. Our associa'
lion IL composed largely u young men
who are clerks and artisans, and our read
ing.rooms should bc adjusted, not particu'
larly for the learned classes, but, ~ far ~
practicable, 20 the requirements OF that
much more numerous class Of persons VII,
can only invest n small sum Of money, and
who can give but little time 20 reading.
IAN libraries and reading rooms arc i'm
portnnt rs auxiliarics "a public education
especially in the particular line Of cluca
ton for which they are designed, but, as
rule. class libraries arc intended Ia iurnisl
ameans of study in one line only. Libra
rics arr never established 90 furnish rccrc
alton nor the means Of earning n better lis
inc, but for the purpose Of bringing abOu
n higher culture, and the especial mission
of our rcading-rooms and libraries h 4
furnish the means Of n higher christian
culture among young men. II il a yer!
easy matter TO form and take carr Of
library 10 suit the wants Of specific condi
lions Of the people, but not ~ easy 10 gath
or such books NJ will afford the CREATES
and most varied interests Of oil sorts 9
readers and at the same time do good Ia all
"a much discuss 4 and generally rccoi
nizcd question Of importance IN all libra
rics IA The question Of the kind ~ rcadin
10 be furnished, and this question become
one Of increased importance when apple
10 our work In this line. Books in othc
libraries may possibly he selected with
view 20 their popularity, but We cannot %
ccpt the popular demand ~ Indicating III
bOOkN tlNt rlOuiu w Ilh''h ~ 'hi Ni'lNN
our efforts should be 10 supply such book
as will likely do the greatest good 10 III
greatest number, and not 10 meet the IL
mand that 10 often comes through III
pmycd or yitiated tastes. In this come,
lion the influence Of our library commi
tees assumes grave importance. Ordinai
observers rarely estimate, and We perhal
seldom realize, Just the extent oi this II
fluence in all Of It's reaches. Today v
have perhaps 200, 200 volumes In our hbr
yics In the United States, with mn ayerI
daily attendance Of from 10000 10 1870
persons who look 10 us for their means
Intellectual improvement, and at the san
time for at least a part Of their christie
culture. ,
''Through our committees and hbrari
NC are silently and almost unconscious
Gaining aacendency over the habits
Thought and literary tastes OF this ever
crcasing army Of readers. IL u, then, @
,ainly important that We should be- able
lnow the direction and gauge the cxtc
and results Of this potential influence, nj
that we should not simply, feel that VIC
purycyor Of literary supplies 10 those v
Visit our rcading.rooms, but we should
alilc that higher privileges arc gwen 10
and that heavier responsibilities arc fesu
f"Tho function Of selecting books to
purchased IL indeed an important ono, :
thia h exerciscd by the library oommit